College students to meet at MTSU Feb. 23 for Tennessee Campus Civic Summit

More than 100 college students from across Tennessee, including a large contingent from Middle Tennessee State University, are preparing for the Tennessee Campus Civic Summit.

The event, which is free to students, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the Miller Education Center, 503 Bell St., in Murfreesboro. Registration remains open for the summit, which is free. Participants must preregister at bit.ly/TCCS24.

College students from across the state gathered in February 2020 for the Tennessee Campus Civic Summit in the Middle Tennessee State University Student Union. Among those taking part were MTSU political science professor Kent Syler, front row second from left, state Sen. London Lamar of Memphis, Tenn., and Beth Harwell, current MTSU Distinguished Visiting Professor and former Tennessee House speaker. More than 100 students, campus representatives and elected officials are set to attend the 2024 summit on Friday, Feb. 23, at the Miller Education Center, 503 Bell St., in Murfreesboro. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

With a theme of “The Future of Democracy: Tennessee’s Students Prepare for 2024,” the Tennessee Campus Civic Summit is a one-day conference for Tennesseans who are doing civic engagement work on their college or university campus, said Kayla Jenkins-Jones, program director for the Tennessee Campus Democracy Network.

“The summit is a nonpartisan opportunity for college students, faculty and staff to develop long-term strategies that promote civic literacy and participation in their campus communities,” Jenkins-Jones added. It’s a chance to connect with other schools in the state, build relationships and equip student leaders with the tools they need to get ready for 2024. We have witnessed the summit’s growth and impact over the last six years, and the upcoming event promises to be a continuation of this valuable civic tradition.”

Mary Evins, research professor in the University Honors College and Department of History, said the annual civic summit “energizes each of us and reminds us of our civic duties, responsibilities, and necessary active roles in forming a more perfect union. The state civic summit assists Tennessee’s colleges, universities and students in supporting each other.

Mary Evins, research professor at the University Honors College and Department of History at Middle Tennessee State University, is recipient of the 2023 Barbara Burch Award for Faculty Leadership in Civic Engagement from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. (MTSU photo by Robin E. Lee) — Dr. Mary Evins

“These summits follow the foundational civic learning and democratic engagement work funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, which MTSU organized in 2015 and 2016 under then the Tennessee Board of Regents, bringing together colleges and universities throughout the state to advance civic learning across all disciplines. Ten years later, in 2024, this work is more important than ever.”

The event is “intended to celebrate the people doing the hard work of civic and democratic engagement at our state’s higher-ed institutions and empower young voters in Tennessee to help shape the future of their communities — on campus and beyond,” Jenkins-Jones said.

Mary Evins, a research professor of history in the University Honors College and coordinator of Middle Tennessee State University’s American Democracy Project, introduces a voting panel in February 2020 in the MTSU Student Union Ballroom as part of the Tennessee Campus Civic Summit. This year’s summit, which will attract more than 100 students, campus representatives and elected officials, will be held Friday, Feb. 23, at the Miller Education Center, 503 Bell St., in Murfreesboro. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

Following MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes‘ welcome, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will provide opening remarks.

Other planned speakers, panelists and presenters include state Rep. Charlie Baum, a professor in the Jones College of Business Department of Economics and Finance; Rashawn Davis from the Andrew Goodman Foundation in Washington, D.C., Catherine Copeland from the American Association of State Universities in Washington, D.C; and other elected officials from Rutherford, Davidson, Knox, Shelby and Hamilton counties.

There will be a student leaders panel led by participants from MTSU (Victoria Grigsby), East Tennessee State University and Lipscomb and Vanderbilt universities.

Lara Daniel, accounting professor in the Jones College of Business will moderate the election officials’ panel. Political Science and International Relations Chair Amy Atchison will moderate the civic leaders’ panel.

State Reps. Charles Baum, left, a Republican from Murfreesboro and a Middle Tennessee State University professor of economics, and London Lamar, a Democrat from Memphis, Tenn., listen to moderators Beth Harwell, current MTSU Distinguished Visiting Professor and former Tennessee House speaker, and MTSU political science professor Kent Syler during a panel on voting in February 2020 as part of the Tennessee Campus Civic Summit in the Student Union. The 2024 summit will be held Friday, Feb. 23, at the Miller Education Center, 503 Bell St., in Murfreesboro. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli) — State Reps. Charles Baum, left, a Republican from Murfreesboro and a Middle Tennessee State University professor of economics, and London Lamar, a Democrat from Memphis, Tenn., listen to moderators Beth Harwell, current MTSU Distinguished Visiting Professor and former Tennessee House speaker, and MTSU political science professor Kent Syler during a panel on voting in February 2020 as part of the Tennessee Campus Civic Summit in the Student Union. Lamar is now a state senator. The 2024 summit will be held Friday, Feb. 23, at the Miller Education Center, 503 Bell St., in Murfreesboro. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

Encouraging early voting

Evins, who has received awards for her campus and national American Democracy Project efforts, said early voting began Wednesday, Feb. 14, and continues until Tuesday, Feb. 27, with the summit in between and MTSU students will be on spring break when the Super Tuesday Presidential Preference Primary occurs on March 3.

“I encourage early voting,” Evins said. “Every student must be a leader in achieving full democratic participation in Tennessee. Everyone must vote. MTSU students began going to the polls today (Feb. 14). Students will be able to register to vote at the summit, but it will be too late for them to participate in the Presidential Preference Primary, but they’ll be ready to vote in the summer and fall elections.”

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)